Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a body found floating in the Hudson River this morning has been identified as that of Mr. Sang Ho Kim, the man wanted in connection with an alleged double shooting in Nassau County last week.

Mr. Kim had been the subject of an intensive manhunt in Putnam County after authorities found his car parked near the Village of Cold Spring last Wednesday night, just hours after he allegedly shot two men–one fatally–in East Garden City.

At about 8:30 AM today (Monday), a recreational boater aboard a sailboat spotted Mr. Kim’s body in the river just south of the Bear Mountain Bridge, near the Rockland County shoreline. The boater called authorities and a State Environmental Conservation Police patrol boat, which was in the vicinity, responded and recovered the body. The Rockland County Medical Examiner’s Office removed the deceased to the morgue, where the remains were positively identified as those of Mr. Kim. A report on the cause of death will be issued by the Medical Examiner.

Sheriff Smith said that Mr. Kim’s death brought closure to the extensive search operation along the river. He praised the combined efforts of the many law enforcement and emergency services agencies that were involved in the case. He also cited what he termed “the outstanding cooperation and support expressed by local community leaders and residents during the search.”

“The tragic violence in East Garden City and the search for Mr. Kim in our local community caused fear and apprehension for many folks,” said the Sheriff. “Today’s events have at least allowed us to turn the page on what was a scary chapter for local residents.